Apparatus for the printing of photographic films



V. LAWLEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRINTING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC nuns,

APPLlCATiON 35,245.

HLED AUG. 24,1921.

Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

l'hvamiar H. V. LAWLEY.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRINTING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

APPLICATION 'FILED AUG.24, I921.

Patented Nov. 14; 1922.

3 SHEETSSHEE1Z.

1 1w nib 7- v. IZAWLP APPARATUS FQR THE PRINTING OF PHOTOGRAPHIG FILMS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24, IQZI.

Patented Nev. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

.Zivvenf or Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

UNITED STATES" 1,435,245 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY VASSAR LAWLEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRINTING 0F PHOTOGRAPHIC FILMS.

Application filed August 24, 1921.. Serial No. 494,767.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY VASSAR LAW- LEY, of London, England, Britishsubject, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in orRelating to Apparatus for closing lamp circuit in accordance with theparticular relation of contacts on the film with other contacts on astationary exposure device or gate, through which the film passes in oder: to obtain various intensities of printing light for differentsections of the Now the present-invention comprises an improved andsimplified form of such a switch device or controller which is morecertain and rapid in action than that of the prior applicationaforesaid, which comprises a fewer number of parts, more particularly asregards electromagnetic elements and which is more sensitive in actionhaving regard to the rapid and momentary engagement of the contacts onthe film and gate referred to. i

The improved controller or switch device also includes means forcompensating for different light values of various film stock used, andfor testing and adjusting the intensity of the printing lamp at alltimes, for maintaining'constant printing effects when a large number offilms pass successively through the printing apparatus, or when a numberof similar films are dealt with in r different apparatus.

armature catch plate hereinafter referred to r Fig. 5 is a detail viewof a scale for use with a sliding resistance for testing or adjustingthe light densities, and

' Fig. 6 is a diagram of the circuits or elec-- trical connectionsemployed.

As in the switch device of the prior con,-'

struction mentioned above there is provided, one for each change oflight, and in the present case ten in number, a tumbler switch, all ofwhich are similar and comprise an armature a' mounted on a knife edge orsimilar pivot a in a cross bar a supported at each end by a pillar acarried by a suitable base a. At one side of the bar a there isprovided, one for each of the armatures a an electromagnet 22 designatedin Fig. 6 with the numerals 1 to 10 corresponding to the differentintensities of light, said electromagnets being connected by conductorsb to the similarly numbered contacts on the gate. Each armature a isprovided with an extension a which dips into mercury cups 0 of whichthere is provided two for each arma- .ture, these cups being connectedrespectively over a busbar al to the electromagnets b by conductors 0(Fig. 6) and to one pole of a battery 03 and lamp 6 by the conductors 00 there being included in the lamp circuit a resistance 6 to which theconductors 0 are con led.

ach armature a is under the action of a light spring f connected at oneend to the base a and at the other end to an adjusting screw f carriedby the armature whereby the tension of the spring can be varied, thisspring tending to hold the armature in circuit-broken position asindicated in full lines in Fig. 2 with its rear end in contact with astop bar i I At the end remote from the mercury cups each armature a isprovided with an extension or nose 9, slightly cut away as at g andcurved as at g and adapted to cooperate with the angular part 71, of a.thin resilient abutment or catch platejt adjustably mounted (as byslotting the ends at k and passing there through a screw h in a rockingframe 2' carried by pin or needle pivots i in end pillars 2' mounted inthe base a. The upper end of the plate It is also capable of adjustmentin the frame 2' by means of a set-screw h extending throug the uppermember 71 of the frame, in order that its position with regard to thecut away part of the nose 9 may be finely calculated to ensure properco-o eration of these parts. Further, the extent 0 the rocking movementof the frame 71 which is under the action of a light spring 2' may beregulated by means of a set screw i passing through a pillar i on thebase and abutting against the lower member 11 of the frame 2 At the sideof the pivots of the armatures opposite to that at which theelectrofnagnets b are located, are two other electromagnets j havingtheir axes horizontal. and which replace the ten rear electroma-gnets ofthe construction disclosed in the prior specification previouslyreferred to. A single electromagnet j may suffice but it is preferred touse two to insure certainty of operation. These electromagnets arecoupled in series (Fig. 6) and are connected at one side by conductor y,to the key contact m on the gate and on the other side by conductor j tothe opposite poles of the battery and lamp, there being included in theconnection between said poles the test or compensating resistance kabove mentioned, but which will be described in more detail later.

The said magnets when energized by engagement of the respective keycontacts on the film and gate, will momentarily attract the rockingframe '5 and it will be apparent from the above description that whenany one of the armatures a is attracted by its magnet 6 according to thecooperation of any pair of contacts 1 to 10 on the gatesand film.respectively, as described in the prior specification, the circuit willbe closed through the mercury cups belonging to the particular armatureattracted and through the connections described to illuminate the lamp 6with the intensity of light desired according to the amount ofresistance 6 involved. -l'Vhen magnet 7) is momentarily energized, thesame occurs to magnets thus rocking the frame 5 and permitting the nose7 to pass above the catch member 713. The

magnets are then instantly de-energized.

permitting the frame i "to return to normal position under the action ofits spring 5 thereby retaining the armature in the arrested positionshown in broken lines in Fig. 2. When however another change of lightintensity takes place for a different film section by the engagement ofthe respective key contacts, the magnet 7) is again v momentarilyenergized and also the magnets this latter resulting in the lower partof the frame 2' being attracted, causing said frame to be rocked aboutits pivot and withdrawing the catch member b from the nose 9 therebypermitting the armature a previously attracted to return to normalposition under the action of its spring 1'' whereby it is instantlyready for another energization of its magnet 72 when required, and ensuring that all the armatures shall be in circuit-broken position untilone or other is attracted by its magnet b according to the pair of filmand gate contacts in operation.

To now refer more specifically to the test resistance 70. this is shownmounted at the front of the base a in a convenient position for readymanipulation and comprises the resistance coil with a contact 7'"adapted to he slid by a button 7: over a graduated scale 7% which itselfis adjustably mounted as by slots 73" and screw Z7 on brackets isextending from the base. The contact if has the usual or any convenientarrangement of brushes [0 for co-operating with the coil [11. The mainpurpose of this device is to enable the operator to provide for dilierent light values of the various film stock used and to compensate forany loss of brilliancy of the lamp 6 should same occur due to Wearof thefilament or other cause, by making a photometer test and then cuttingout resistance on coil 70 accordingly, whereby in the event of similarfilms being passed through-two or more printing machines. exactly thesame intensity of light shall be available in both or all the machinesfor the different sections of films. In such case, and after testing thelamps and operating the compensating resistance accordingly so that theintensity of light is the same in-all the machines, the graduated scale70 can be set so that the reading on the scale is the same on allmachines, and any variation made for different light values of variousmakes of film stock will be uniform.

What I claim as my invention and desire to-secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States is 1. A switch device for use in automatic filmprinting operations involving variations of light intensity comprising,for each variation of light intensity an armature. an electromagnet foreach armature adapted to attract same to close an associated lampcircuit, means for retaining an attracted armature in circuit closingposition, and electromagnetic means common to the complete range ofarmatures for releasing said attracted armature and permitting it toreturn to normal open circuit position, a film with contacts thereon andotherrontacts in circuit with said electromagnets. and positioned to beengaged by said film contacts to close said circuit.

2. A switch device for use in automatic film printing operationsinvolving variations of light intensity comprising, for each variationof light intensity an armature, an electromagnet for each armatureadapted to attract same to close an associated lamp circuit, means forretaining an attracted armature in circuit-closing position comprising arocking element having a catch member for each armature adapted to.arrest same when attracted, and electromagnetic means common to thecomplete range of armatures adapted to attract said rocking element torelease the attracted armature and arrest another when a change ofprinting light takes place, a film with contacts thereon and othercontacts in attract same to close an associated lamp circuit, means forretaining an attracted armature in circuit closing position comprising arockin element having a catch member for eac armature adapted to arrestsame when attracted, electromagnetic means common to the complete rangeof armatures adapted to attract said rocking element to release theattracted armature and arrest an other when a change of printing lighttakes place means for adJuSting the catch member 1n relation to thearmatures', and other means for adjusting the extent of movement of therockin element, a film with contacts thereon ang other contacts incircuit with said electromagnets and positioned to be engaged by saidfilm contacts to close said circuit.

. 4. A switch device for use in automatic film printing operationsinvolvin variations of light intensity, comprising, or each variation oflight mtensity an armature, an electromagnet for each armature adaptedto attract same to close an associated lamp circuit, means for retainingan attracted armature in circuit closing position, electromagnetic meanscommon to the complete range of armatures for releasing said attractedarmature and permitting it to return to normal open circuit position,and means associated with the lighting circuit for compensating forvarious light values of film stock used in the printing operation a filmwith contacts thereon and other contacts in circuit with said electromanets and positioned to be engaged by said film contacts to close saidcircuit.

5. A switch'device for use in automatic film printing operationsinvolving variations of light intensity, comprising, for each variationof light intensity an armature, an electromagnet for each armatureadapted to attract same to close an associated lamp circuit, means forretaining an attracted armature in circuit closing position,electromagnetic means common to the complete range of armatures forreleasing said attracted armature and permitting it to return to normalopen-circuit position andmeans associated with the lighting circuit forcompensating for various light values of film stock used in the printingoperation, said last mentioned means comprising a compensatingresistance in the lighting circuit, a sliding contact adapted to bemanually passed over said resistance, and an adjustable graduated scalewith which the sliding contact co-operates, a film with contacts thereonand other contacts in circuit with said electroma nets and positioned tobe engaged by sai film contacts to close said circuit.

In witness whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo witnesses.

HENRY VASSAR LAWLEY.

Witnesses:

HERBERT G. DAVIS, ARTHUR C. DAGEMBE.

